Tracking group details car-related crime
James de Villiers
Car-tracking company Tracker says more than half of all vehicle-related crime occurs in Gauteng.
The province is followed by Durban in KwaZulu-Natal for both the highest number of thefts and hijackings.
Tracker’s data suggest that most thefts and hijackings occur on a Saturday, and are reported between 20:00 and 21:00.
More than half of all vehicle-related crime in South Africa occurs in Gauteng, with hijackings more prevalent in Johannesburg and theft mainly occurring in Pretoria, a new report found.
The Tracker vehicle crime statistics for the period July to December 2019 revealed that in December there had been an 18% overall decline in the number of theft and hijackings reported countrywide. This followed a 21% decrease in December 2017.
The information was compiled from Tracker’s more than 1.1 million installed vehicle tracker base in South Africa.
Gauteng is followed by Durban for the provincial top spot for both hijackings and theft. The Western Cape is in third position, with hijackings mainly occurring in Khayelitsha while theft is highest in Cape Town central.
Other theft and hijacking hotspots included eMalahleni in Mpumalanga, Ibhayi in the Eastern Cape, Rustenburg in the North West, Polokwane in Limpopo and Bloemfontein in the Free State.
While the Northern Cape has less than 1% of the total reported vehicle-related crime, hijackings are primarily reported in Postmasburg and theft in Kimberley.
The data also indicates that most vehicles are hijacked or stolen on a Saturday, followed by Thursday and Friday for hijackings and theft respectively.
Most hijackings are reported between 20:00 and 21:00 followed by 12:00 and 14:00, while theft of a vehicle is reported between 11:00 and 14:00, Tracker said.
The company said in January, since its inception in 1996, it has recovered 100,000 stolen vehicles. Business Insider SA
